Book Review 16 - Fallen, by Lauren Kate

I have a minor EEEKS moment
every time I look at this cover...

If you've read my review for Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, you'll know that I read this at the same time, and their similiarites were hard to ignore, but I'll do my best to do Fallen justice without comparing (too much). It isn't a book I would have immediately picked up of my own volition. I should let you know that I prefer kick-ass action to undiluted romance, and this book seemed to have a whole lot of the latter and not enough of the former. But, I got started with it anyway, and found that the hype wasn't all hot air. I perserved, and my patience was definitely rewarded. It's a story about angels, about light and dark, good and evil, and most of all, about love - love that can't be changed, only saved, or destroyed. It's compelling, and brilliantly-written.


There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori. Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.


It is the characters, and more importantly, the characters' past, that make this book work. This character and setting build-up is vital to the storyline. They characters are fascinating, and most of them leap off the page with such intensity I was completely envious of Lauren Kate being able to keep them in her head (Not in a schizophrenic way. In that writer-y way where when you write the protaganists - and antagonists - are dictating what happens right in your ear. Except when revising, where they have to be rudely shoved aside so the practical editor side of your mind can wade through all the impassioned rubbish and make some kind of sensible plot). Arriane - bad-ass and insane (my favourite!). Cam - lecherous, and slightly evil. Gabbe - sickly-sweet and underestimated. Luce herself - confused, lonely, but smart, and growing throughout the book.

And then there's Daniel. Oh, Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. Perfect, awe-inspiring, drool-worthy.

And also, completely implausible.

I wanted him to be the person he should have been to end up in a place like that, like the only centre secure enough to hold Luce without her killing anybody. And for a long time, he seemed to be that, with just a hint of something else underneath - his true self; kind, sweet, sacrificial, devoted. And I didn't believe it. I wanted him to be more tortured. I wanted him to be thinking; if I get anywhere near this girl I'm going to send su both up in flames at every waking moment. But when he did think like that, it was so half-hearted it was practically non-existent. And I understand that that's part of the nature of his love for Luce, but I just wished he was strong enough to hold out a little longer. (So maybe I like torturing my characters. A little. Or a lot. So what?) However. I won't drag out that particular annoyance too much, because frankly there is too much good about this book to ignore.

We need to be very involved with Luce to believe her, and to keep up the chain of events that follow, and as we learn her history - or what she knows of her history, to be more specific - the pieces of the puzzle come together, like they have been dotted carefully throughout the chapters without us noticing. That was my favourite part about Lauren Kate's writing - she doesn't underestimate her readers' intelligence, and you feel respected. I certainly enjoyed the fact that the mixture of obvious and not-so-obvious hints allows us to guess, predict, and gasp at the scenes that we see unfolding before our very eyes. Her writing is so amazing it's scary. Even if I didn't like the way the plot had turned, or the situation she had put her characters in, I couldn't deny the way she was wrote was not only realistic, but it was flawless, and flowing, too.

Okay, so it's not exactly the kind of book you're going to read over and over again, it is the kind of story you're either going to absolutely love or absolutely hate, and the plot isn't necessarily unique - after all, it kind of started the angel-fanatic trend that cursed our shelves not so long ago - but taking the risk was definitely worth it for me.

I sought out the sequel, only to find out it wouldn't be released for months, and had to make to do with imagining everything that would happen in the second book. As you've probably guessed I've read Torment by now, and Passion, but my opinions on those will have to wait - this review is for people who haven't read it yet, or are just about to, or are considering buying/loaning/grabbing it from the nearest bookshop, shoving it under their jacket and running away as quickly as possible (not that I condone stealing in any way, shape or form...not at all. Except in books. Or videogames. Or movies. Or if you're a totally awesome thief from the streets who helps Sherlock Holmes. But I digress.)

Anyway. Onto my short round-up...

Re readability: 3.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
In five words: angelic! Well-written, unputdownable, dark, seductive.

Allie

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick - Excerpt

OK, y'all have probably already seen this by now, but I like excerpts, so bear with me!

PROLOGUE

LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE NOVEMBER 1565

CHAUNCEY WAS WITH A FARMER’S DAUGHTER ON the grassy banks of the Loire River when the storm rolled in, and having let his gelding wander in the meadow, was left to his own two feet to carry him back to the chÂteau. He tore a silver buckle off his shoe, placed it in the girl’s palm, and watched her scurry away, mud slinging on her skirts. Then he tugged on his boots and started for home.

Rain sheeted down on the darkening countryside surrounding the ChÂteau de Langeais. Chauncey stepped easily over the sunken graves and humus of the cemetery; even in the thickest fog he could find his way home from here and not fear getting lost. There was no fog tonight, but the darkness and onslaught of rain were deceiving enough.

There was movement along the fringe of Chauncey’s vision, and he snapped his head to the left. At first glance what appeared to be a large angel topping a nearby monument rose to full height. Neither stone nor marble, the boy had arms and legs. His torso was naked, his feet were bare, and peasant trousers hung low on his waist. He hopped down from the monument, the ends of his black hair dripping rain. It slid down his face, which was dark as a Spaniard’s.

Chauncey’s hand crept to the hilt of his sword. “Who goes there?”

The boy’s mouth hinted at a smile.

“Do not play games with the Duc de Langeais,” Chauncey warned. “I asked for your name. Give it.”

“Duc?” The boy leaned against a twisted willow tree. “Or bastard?”

Chauncey unsheathed his sword. “Take it back! My father was the Duc de Langeais. I’m the Duc de Langeais now,” he added clumsily, and cursed himself for it.

The boy gave a lazy shake of his head. “Your father wasn’t the old duc.”

Chauncey seethed at the outrageous insult. “And your father?” he demanded, extending the sword. He didn’t yet know all his vassals, but he was learning. He would brand the family name of this boy to memory. “I’ll ask once more,” he said in a low voice, wiping a hand down his face to clear away the rain. “Who are you?”

The boy walked up and pushed the blade aside. He suddenly looked older than Chauncey had presumed, maybe even a year or two older than Chauncey. “One of the Devil’s brood,” he answered.

Chauncey felt a clench of fear in his stomach. “You’re a raving lunatic,” he said through his teeth. “Get out of my way.”

The ground beneath Chauncey tilted. Bursts of gold and red popped behind his eyes. Hunched with his fingernails grinding into his thighs, he looked up at the boy, blinking and gasping, trying to make sense of what was happening. His mind reeled like it was no longer his to command.

The boy crouched to level their eyes. “Listen carefully. I need something from you. I won’t leave until I have it. Do you understand?”

Gritting his teeth, Chauncey shook his head to express his disbelief—his defiance. He tried to spit at the boy, but it trickled down his chin, his tongue refusing to obey him.

The boy clasped his hands around Chauncey’s; their heat scorched him and he cried out.

“I need your oath of fealty,” the boy said. “Bend on one knee and swear it.”

Chauncey commanded his throat to laugh harshly, but his throat constricted and he choked on the sound. His right knee buckled as if kicked from behind, though no one was there, and he stumbled forward into the mud. He bent sideways and retched.

“Swear it,” the boy repeated.

Heat flushed Chauncey’s neck; it took all his energy to curl his hands into two weak fists. He laughed at himself, but there was no humor. He had no idea how, but the boy was inflicting the nausea and weakness inside him. It would not lift until he took the oath. He would say what he had to, but he swore in his heart he would destroy the boy for this humiliation.

“Lord, I become your man,” Chauncey said venomously.

The boy raised Chauncey to his feet. “Meet me here at the start of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. During the two weeks between new and full moons, I’ll need your service.”

“A … fortnight?” Chauncey’s whole frame trembled under the weight of his rage. “I am the Duc de Langeais!”

“You are a Nephil,” the boy said on a sliver of a smile.

Chauncey had a profane retort on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it. His next words were spoken with icy venom. “What did you say?”

“You belong to the biblical race of Nephilim. Your real father was an angel who fell from heaven. You’re half mortal.” The boy’s dark eyes lifted, meeting Chauncey’s. “Half fallen angel.”

Chauncey’s tutor’s voice drifted up from the recesses of his mind, reading passages from the Bible, telling of a deviant race created when angels cast from heaven mated with mortal women. A fearsome and powerful race. A chill that wasn’t entirely revulsion crept through Chauncey. “Who are you?”

The boy turned, walking away, and although Chauncey wanted to go after him, he couldn’t command his legs to hold his weight. Kneeling there, blinking up through the rain, he saw two thick scars on the back of the boy’s naked torso. They narrowed to form an upside-down V.

“Are you—fallen?” he called out. “Your wings have been stripped, haven’t they?”

The boy—angel—whoever he was did not turn back. Chauncey did not need the confirmation.

“This service I’m to provide,” he shouted. “I demand to know what it is!”

The air resonated with the boy’s low laughter.

Allie

Book Review 15 - Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick

OK, I totally jumped on the YA bandwagon with this one.

What can I say about this cover
that hasn't already been said? It's not
my favourite out there, but it's still
pretty good!

Angels + teenage love = GIRLS BETWEN THE AGES OF TWELVE AND EIGHTEEN BEWARE! THE VIRUS MAY VERY WALL BE INFECTING YOU AT THIS VERY MOMENT! But wading through all that hype is worth it - underneath, there really is a book worth devouring. I know anyone who's anyone has probably read it by now, but I didn't get it for a while after it was published and I eventually had to see what all the fuss was about. I finished it a long time ago, andnever got around to reviewing it - I should have, but I didn't, so I'm doing it now. Better late than never...

I'll be straight with you. This book screams romance. Which wouldn't have interested me not so long ago, but my recent introduction and subsequent obsession with YA fiction means the hollering of true love affects the plotline in a good way. The romance is dark, and seductive, and sometimes even funny. It's the lifeblood of the book, and without it, the story wouldn't be the same.

The characters are easy to like, no matter how many times you tell yourself you shouldn't. Patch is, of course, incredible. It's taking everything I have not to write about him in block capitals. Even though there were times when I didn't like his decisions, or just didn't like him in general he kept me crawling back - and that's the true mark of Becca Fitzpatrick's prowess. Frustration seeps from every pore of the characters, and yet I continued to read it anyway. It took me a while longer to connect with Nora I couldn't help but see things in her that I enjoyed reading about, and I liked watching her develop. She changes throughout the book just as many of the other characters do, but you realize that these changes are significant at different stages and chapters - and character growth is one of the main things I look for in a book.

 The battle between light and dark that rages between the pages seems realistic as it extends towards the characters, to you and back again. One of my favourite things about it is that even though it is, technically, of the paranormal genre, everything and everyone in it is so easy to imagine. You barely even have to think about conjuring up their images or hearing them speak. The romantic elements - which are, admittedly, a large percentage of the novel - are original and there are paragraphs I just wanted to read over and over. It's dark and tempting and well, should be perfect as a guilt-pleasure novel - except it's not a guilty pleasure because there's nothing to be guilty about. the writing is excellent, and the plot, with all its undercurrents and twists, does deserve credit. Which means - it's okay to enjoy this kind of book! HALLELUJAH!

However, as with any book it has its faults....

I did read it at the same time as I was racing through Fallen by Lauren Kate so the two stories and their similarities did have a minor tug of war with my heartstrings...(and every other part of me,) but overall it didn't really impact on my enjoyment of the novel because their differences were just enough to get me through.

I definitely think it's not one of those books you can re-read as many times as you want because the plot does eventually become too easy to remember and the story loses the element of excitement. There were certain parts of the book that didn't appeal to me or that I simply didn't like, but it's the same with everyone, and to be fair, you're never going to absolutely adore every single word in an entire book. From this review you may think I'm obsessed, but that's actually one of its downfalls - I wished I could be obsessed, but somehow, I just couldn't. Despite how great it is, there's just something missing that I can't put my finger on that stops me from all out shouting 'READ THIS BOOK! AND READ IT NOOOOWW!!' from the rooftops - although I wouldn't tell you not to read it, either. I just think that a lot of the book seems flat. not that it isn't exciting or thrilling - it's more like you can never get fully lost in the story; you're always too aware of the real world, which I think is a shame. However, any YA/YA romance reader will like this book - and might even help them warm up to the fantasy and paranormal genres to boot (although all three genres do in a way go hand in hand these days).

Rereadability: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5/5
Writing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
In five words: excellent, pure YA romance, brilliant.

Allie

Book Review 14 - Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White

Well, the title gives you an idea, doesn't it? This book is the epitome of YA paranormal romance. There are vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and faeries. There are haunting dreams and mysterious prophecies. There is the threat of looming destruction. The main character, Evie, is torn between two guys, and of course, intrigued about what's going to happen in the next episode of  Eastern Heights, her favourite soap opera.

As the summary says; Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours, but still. Normal. Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie's dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the centre of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures. So much for normal.

Kiersten White writes with a perfect mix of realistic description and rapier wit. Evie's voice is one of the strongest I have heard in any book in quite a while. The book is a pleasure to read; the pages might as well be turning themselves. As a reader I admire how everything comes together while still leaving enough to keep you ninterested and hungry for more; as a writer I admire how well it's written and wondering how on earth she could come up with so many good lines and keep them all life like. I lvoe how the tone and images just jump off the page. It has a very American style, which can sometimes agitate a reader if it\s too pronounced or has a strange effect on an otherwise good story, but in this case I can't imagine it being told any other way.

As for the characters...well, Evie aside. Lend was completely different from what I was expecting. Kind, sweet, yet protective when the situation called for it. He was the perfect yang to Evie's yin. He's the type of noble guy that you can always count on. His relationship with Evie is not instant either, it progresses at a great pace where you can see and feel their attraction grow. I was also delighted with the lack of a love triangle - well, there is Evie's dangerous ex-boyfriend, Reth. I didn’t expect it to happen, but he became one of my favorite characters. His scenes were absolutely delicious!

Fom the very first page you're placed straight into the action, and as the plot unfolds there are layers that you didn't expect to be there and enjoy figuring out. The storylines are laid out and then mixed up again - it's the kind of story that definitely keeps you on your toes. It's fast paced and addictive and there's no room for waiting around, because there always seems to be something happening, but it never seems rushed or lacking in detail. There are little dashes of normality among this paranormal world, and there are laugh out loud moments. It's very skillfully put together, and a sure sign of an author with a lot more to give. 
The characters are vivid and easy to imagine - though some of them you'll either love or loathe, the guys will try to steal you heart. It took me a while to warm to some of the girls, and I have to say that I didn't like Evie at times simply through personal preference, but she is feisty and funny and not weak in any way, shape or form. She stood out in my mind, and once I'd started reading her voice wouldn't leave - it's that distinct.

Admittedly, parts of this book seem stereotypical, or like you've seen it all before. Sometimes, yes, I did feel like it was just another YA paranormal romance; but I tried to keep an open mind as I got further and further in. It's a book that will always draw you back, even if you've read a part you might not like or you feel that you can no longer swim here in the deep end where you've been thrown in (occasionally I did feel like I was reading a sequel to a book I hadn't read yet) but it's hard to keep thoughts of how refreshing some elements of it are out of your mind. It may not suit everyone simply because of the fact that it fels too broad and light hearted - as if in the process of trying to puut in something for everyone, I felt sort of like the author was just vying for fans by putting in certain aspects of the book rather than concentrating on the parts she was passionate about herself.

However, I couldn't deny that it is a fantastic and enjoyable novel, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a roller-coaster ride of a story to keep them occupied. I am looking forward to the second book in the series!

Re-readability: 3.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Impact: 3/4
Overall: 4/5
In five words: fast-paced, action-packed, enjoyable, paranormal, funny.

Allie

Raised by Wolves, Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Excerpt

OK, I'm going to be all cheaty with this one. I can't find a good excerpt from Raised by Wolves, or even an excerpt at all, except this:

“You don’t miss being human?” I asked. It was one thing to watch the Weres lose their human selves on the day of the full moon, to watch the wolf slowly taking hold of Callum’s body, or Devon’s, but it was another thing altogether to imagine going from being what I was to the thing that Chase was now.
It could have been me.

- which isn't really an excerpt at all, and I can't be bothered to type out a whole one by myself, so I'm going to skip straight to Trial By Fire and give myself a treat as well as you, by posting this whole chunk of chapter one! Come on, you love me for it, don't y'all? 

“No more school, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks . . .”

For a two-hundred-twenty-pound werewolf, Devon Macalister had a wicked falsetto. Leaning back in his chair with casual grace, he shot a mischievous look around our lunch table. “Everyone sing along!”

As the leader of our little group—not to mention the alpha of Devon’s pack and his best friend since kindergarten—the responsibility for shutting down his boy-band tendencies fell to me. “It’s Thanksgiving break, Dev, not summer vacation, and technically, it hasn’t even started yet.”

My words fell on deaf ears. The smile on Devon’s face wid­ened, making him look—to my eyes, at least—more puppy than wolf. To my left, Lake, whose history with Devon’s flare for the dramatic stretched back almost as far as mine did, rolled her eyes, but her lips parted in a grin every bit as irre­pressible and lupine as Devon’s.

A wave of energy—pure, undiluted, and animalistic—vibrated through my own body, and I closed my eyes for one second .. . two.

Three.

In control of the impulse to leap out of my chair and run for the woods, I glanced across the table at the last member of our little quartet. Maddy was sitting perfectly still, blinking her gray eyes owlishly, a soft smile on her lips. Images—of the night sky, of running—leapt from her mind to mine through our pack-bond, as natural as words falling off lips.

The impending full moon might have been giving the rest of our table werewolf ADD, but Maddy was perfectly Zen—much more relaxed than she normally would have been when all eyes were on the four of us.

Despite our continued efforts to blend in, the buzz of power in the air and the unspoken promise that within hours, my friends would shed their human skin were palpable. I rec­ognized the feeling for what it was, but our very human—and easily fascinated—classmates had no idea. To them, the four of us were mysterious and magnetic and just a bit unreal—even

me.

In the past nine months, my life had changed in more ways than I could count, but one of the most striking was the fact that at my new high school, I wasn’t an outsider, ignored and avoided by humans who had no idea why people like Devon and Lake—and to a lesser extent me—felt off. Instead, the other students at Weston High had developed a strange fascination with us. They didn’t approach. They didn’t try to penetrate our tight-knit group, but they watched and the whispered, and whenever Devon—Devon!—met their eyes, the girls sighed and fluttered their eyelashes in some kind of human mating ritual that I probably wouldn’t have completely understood even if I’d grown up like a normal girl.

Given that I’d been raised as the only human child in the largest werewolf pack in North America, the batting of eye­lashes was every bit as foreign to me as running through the woods, surrounded by bodies and warmth and the feeling of home, would have been to anyone else. Some days, I felt like I knew more about being a werewolf than I would ever know about being a teenage girl.

It was getting easier and easier to forget that I was human.

Soon. Soon. Soon.

The bond that tied me to the rest of the pack vibrated with the inevitability of the coming moon, and even though I knew better than to encourage Devon, I couldn’t help the way my own lips tilted up at the corners. The only things that stood between the four of us and Thanksgiving break were a couple of hours and a quiz on Shakespeare.

The only thing standing between us and delicious, feral freedom was the setting ofthe sun.

 And the only thing that stood between me and Chase—my Chase—was a distance I could feel the boy in question closing mile by mile, heartbeat by heartbeat,second by second.

“Bronwyn, please, you’re making me blush.”  Dev—who could read me like book, with or without whatever I was projecting through the pack-bond—adopted a scandalized tone and brought a hand to his chest, like he was seconds away from demanding smelling salts and going faint. But I sensed his wolf stirring beneath the surface and knew that it was hard for Devon on a day like today to be reminded that I wasn’t his to protect in the same way anymore.

ThatI was alpha.

That Chase and I were . . . whatever Chase and I were.

“Fine,” I said, flicking a French fry in Devon’s general direction. “Have it your way. No more school, no more books . . .”

Dev made an attempt at harmonizing with me, but given my complete lack of vocalchops, it did not go well, and a horrified silence descended over our entire table.

After several seconds, Devon regarded the rest of us with mock solemnity. “We shall never speak of this moment again.”

“Inyour dreams, Broadway boy.” Shaking out her long blonde hair—a motion laden with excess adrenaline—Lake stood and stretched her mile-long legs. If the girls in school were all secretly pining for Devon, the boys were absolutely smitten with Lake. Clearly, they’d never met the business end of her shotgun or had their butts whipped at pool.

Soon. Soon. Soon.

Across the table, Maddy sighed, and Devon bumped her shoulder with his, a comforting gesture meant to communicate that he understood. Soon, our entire pack would be gathered in the woods. Soon, the Weres would Shift and I would let their power flow through me, until I forgot I was human and the difference between four legs and two virtually disappeared.

Soon—but not soon enough.

“So,” I said, my voice low and soothing, intent on keeping my pack-mates focused, however briefly, on the here and now. “Hamlet. What do I need to know?”

“New girl.”

I balked at Lake’s answer. “I was thinking more along the lines of Guildencrantz and Frankenstein.”

“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,” Devon corrected absentmindedly as he followed Lake’s gaze to the double archway at the front of the cafeteria. I turned to look, too, and the rest of the student body took their cue from us, until everyone was eyeballing the girl who stood there.

She was small—the word tiny wouldn’t have been a misnomer—and her eyes seemed to take up a disproportionate amount of her face. Her skin was very pale, and she was dressed almost entirely in black, save for a pair of white leather gloves that covered her arms from the elbows down.

She looked like a porcelain doll, and she felt like a threat. Given that I could tell, even from a distance, that she wasn’t a Were, I had no idea why something inside me insisted I track her every move.

“The natives are getting kind of restless,” Devon commented offhand. Weston wasn’t a big school, and mid-semester transfers were practically unheard of, so White Leather Gloves was garnering more than her fair share of murmurs and stares.

Including mine.

“Mayhaps I should go play the white knight, divert the spotlight a little?”

Devon’s suggestion was enough to make me switch my gaze from the new girl to him.

“No.”

I wasn’t sure who was more shocked by the sharpness with which that word exited my mouth—Devon or me. Our pack didn’t do orders. Given the way I felt about people getting dictatorial with me, I wasn’t prone to pulling rank on anyone else. Besides, Devon and I had spent so much time together growing up that even if he hadn’t been my second-in-command, I still wouldn’t have been able to force my will on him. The closest I could come to ordering him to do anything was threatening to decapitate him if he didn’t stop singing The Best of ABBA at the top of his lungs, and even that was mostly futile.

With a lightly inquisitive noise, Devon caught my gaze and held it. “Something you’d like to share with the class there, Bryn?” he asked, arching one eyebrow to ridiculous heights while keeping the other perfectly in place.

I debated answering, but it was probably nothing—just that time of the month, with emotions  running high and my heart beating with the power of the impending full moon. Still, I hadn’t spent my entire life growing up around people capable of snapping my neck like a Popsicle stick without learning to pay attention when my instincts put me on high alert.

If my gut said someone was a threat, I had to at least consider the possibility that it was true—even if the someone in question was five foot nothing and human down to the tips of her leather-clad fingers.

Allie

Book Review 13 - Raised by Wolves, Jennifer Lynn Barnett

It really was the cover that made me
pick up this book. It screams YA, but
also mystery and adrenaline, which was
 what I really needed at the time! I love it.

OK, so y'all know wolves aren't really my thing. But I think my opinion may just have been calmed by this book! I barely even had to read the blurb before I knew I wanted to read it, werewolves or no. I was looking for something exciting, supernatural and kick-ass, and that was exactly what I got. Raised By Wolves is an in-depth book that not only introduced me to the snarky, won't take no for answer, strong willed main character Bryn, but it captured me and brought into the amazing world of werewolves. Jennifer's world building and writing style allowed me to get a bird's eye view of what it would be like to live with these Weres.


Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it, but that doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. When her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a boy locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs. But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

'That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two' - what an understatement! Bryn's voice is lifelike and laugh-out-loud, and right from the very first chapter we get a sense of both her love for her Pack and her unwillingness to bend over backwards in order to stick to their rules, since she clearly defines herself as human and them as werewolves. It doesn't mean she views them as her family any less, but it does give her the freedom to stand up for herself and push the boundaries a little. Since she is Marked, there are certain things she has to do, but it's easier to take because we know how hard she is trying to be her own person. She's that girl everyone wants to play truth or dare with because they just know she'd take whatever was thrown at her and give as good as she got. Bryn is feisty, independent and sneaky, but she is also intelligent, deeply caring, and easy to adore. Bryn is everything Calla is supposed to be in Andrea Cremer's Nightshade, except for one major difference: she succeeds.

Barnes writes in such a captivating and electrifying way that keeps you on your toes, always second guessing any speculations you may have about the plot line and outcome of the book. Raised by Wolves is told in the first person and a mature, smart, funny narrative is created that can still be believed and go into great detail. The balance between plot and personality is deftly achieved and it was one of the things I really enjoyed about the book.

The way the characters interacted with each other was endearing and sincere, especially the interactions between Callum and Bryn. She's one of those girls that just doesn't really care what other people think, but she understood why Callum was more strict with her than other members of the pack, and just because she understood it, it didn't mean she was going to keep quiet and let him get away with it. However, we're also quickly introduced to other characters; the pack is made up of both wolf pack traditions and human family emotions. There's tight bonds, frustrations, heart ache, love, action and strong unbreakable bonds formed that will forever change the way Bryn's pack has lived for centuries. I thought Devon was brilliant, acting as a comedic relief when needed but also as a genuine, trusted friend and a connection for Bryn that never strays as the plot progresses. Ali was also very funny and the twins were just plain adorable.

Speaking of the plot; it all starts off with one simple catalyst. When Bryn finds Chase - a newly turned werewolf - locked in Callum's basement she begins to realise that the pack has been keeping secrets. She is determined to uncover the truth and needs to work with Chase to do that. Although one of my only disappointments was my lack of ability to believe the forbidden love between them both - though I sup[pose that was one of the reason why I didn't like it; it was forbidden, and the rest of Bryn's world seemed so perfect that I just didn't want her to have to leave it! -  it was still nice to see her breaking away from what she knew to do what she felt in her heart was right. The story is fast paced and has plenty of action.Jennifer Lynn Barnes has created an interesting world with an unusual twist to the werewolf mythology. The story sucks you in and takes you along a roller coaster journey until the very last page. I won't give too much away, but let's just say there is a lot of character growth and some very surprising twists. And besides, the story is always better when a character has a depressing back-story which adds to the plot!

Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Impact: 4/5
Re-readability: 3/5
Overall: 4/5

Barnes has created a captivating story with a first class heroine and plenty of twists that took me completely by surprise.Although the story ended well things have definitely been left open for the next book Trial by Fire and I can't wait to get my hands on it. If you're a fan of paranormal stories then this is a must read book, one that I would highly recommend - I'd rate it right up there with Shiver, if not slightly more....but n'aww, I don't think anything could ever beat Shiver for me...*sighs dreamily* Speaking of which, I should probably review that soon, too!

Allie

Book Review 12 - Forgotten, Cat Patrick

Yet another stunning YA cover!

It was the idea behind Forgotten that made me pick it up. Sure, I had vaguely heard of it in book blogger circles' and around the internet, but I was really just intrigued by the premise and the research that must have gone into a story like this.

London Lane remembers her future the same way we remember our past. And while the average person doesn't 'remember' their future, London doesn't remember her past. Her memories are of the future, but the moment they become the past, they're forgotten. At precisely 4:33am every morning she forgets the day she's just lived and awakens with only what she sees of the future and her daily notes on what's happened in her life. She has to remind herself of the clothes she wore yesterday, the conversations she had, what she needs to do for school, why she's angry at certain people and to remind herself to stay angry at certain people. She's is used to relying on these notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting - before it destroys her future.

The writing in Forgotten is classically American YA. It's nothing truly remarkable, but Cat Patrick does weave intelligence and intrigue into her style and fills every word with the promise of mystery and excitement.

An interesting thing about the book is the presence of a love story that not only affects the characters, but the plot. A novel about a girl like London could have taken places anytime in her life, but Luke is the cataclysmic reason for the book to be written. There's an instant attraction between them; he's gorgeous and seems like such a genuinely sweet boy. I loved the way Cat Patrick described meeting Luke, the first time and every other. It was like a new experience each time, not just for London, but for me as well! As she described him a bit differently every time focusing on his unwavering gaze, to his obvious ease or his effortless smile. I had to smile to myself when I came across this short, yet sweet paragraph in the book:


I thought I was prepared. This morning, I read months of notes. I flipped through dozens of photos. But Luke in real life is something else. Luke in real life is something no amount of notes could prepare me for. My living, breathing boyfriend is amazing. 


You want to like him straight away, but there is something too oddly familiar about Luke for London, though she doesn't see him in any of her future memories. So as much as she'd love the idea of seeing and talking to him again, she doesn't torture herself by dwelling on what she knows will never come. Until it does. She talks to him again the next day. And the next. And the next. Luke Henry is very much a part of her future, he becomes an incredibly important part but she still can't remember him. Which means every day she must read her notes growing notes on this wonderful boy and meet him all over again. All the while keeping up the facade that she 'does' remember him - since only two people in her life know of her condition.


To me, London's condition is heartbreaking. To have these 'future memories' of days, months, years to come and know they're only temporary in your mind - the moment you actually live in them, the dreaded 4:33am curse comes around and nothing. Just words; ink and paper reminders of what once was.

There are two things about this book that you should know; first, it is pretty much character-led. London is the central part of the story, with Luke as the catalyst for her emotions, and the other characters simply serving as facilitators for the plot and what London needs. Second, it's not for people who like good old a fast-paced action story. It's short and succinct, but it is, essentially, a modern-day mystery that attempts to become a YA thriller and doesn't completely reach its target.

Don't get me wrong, the story was a mesmerizing page-turning psychological mystery; full of drama and young love that I greedily consumed in one evening, but there was just a certain...nothingness about it that made me not instantly fall in love with it. I wanted more - so much more. There honestly could be no other reason for my blah reaction except personal preference, but I think the pacing, characterization, lack of subplot(s) and other features need to be taken into account. There were just too many things that I couldn't believe about it, and though I did enjoy reading it somewhat, I felt sort of let down.

However, I'm sure many readers out there will love it and will probably hate me for the rest of my life for saying that I dislike how all the elements of the story seemed to reach a certain level, and then just stopped, when I wished they could have gone so much further.

Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Impact: 2/5
Re-readability: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5
In five words: mysterious, romantic, intriguing, well-written

Allie

Book Review 11 - Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini

This cover used to make me giddy
just looking at it...

All right, let's get back to the kind of thing I have always loved, and will always love. GOOD OLD EPIC ACTION FANTASY! WOOOOT! It's the big one. The Big Mac, the iPod, the XBox, the hugest cheese in the whole cave, the one and only- well, you get the idea.

Chris Paolini took so long on this one I nearly died waiting for it.

Then I nearly died reading it. I also cried. I DO NOT CRY AT BOOKS.

Not so very long ago, Eragon--Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider--was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix.

Obviously, this book is the end of the Inheritance cycle. You have no idea how profoundly sad that makes me. I love this series, and some of my all-time favorite book moments occur during it. I shall never forget you! *clings to books*

Usually my reviews follow a general, if invisible to most people except me, format. I am about to throw this out the window. Into the next field. Where it will slowly sink through the water-logged grass into the depths of the earth. But I digress. Yes, it will be full of spoilers, yes, it won't be very coherent, and yes, it's probably going to be emotional, crazy mush I will delete by tomorrow. I'm going to write it anyway. If you don't like that sort of thing, turn away now.

(But come back later, of course!)

Christopher Paolini, in writing this book you went and ripped my heart into so many pieces I still haven't found them all. Which isn't surprising considering I just got this book today and have already come here to splurge out my feelings and thoughts in some kind of review.

ERAGON AND ARYA WERE MEANT TO BE TOGETHER.

YOU KNEW IT. WE KNEW IT. THEY KNEW IT. FOR GOD'S SAKE EVEN IF THE DRAGONS KNEW IT!!

Okay, fine, maybe they didn't have to traipse off to some mystical, magical other land together, but a kiss would have been nice?! Or even some form of romance other than... well... I CAN'T EVEN COMPARE IT TO ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PUT ANY ERAGON/ARYA ROMANCE IN THERE!

And then you had the audacity, to go and hint at the Nasuada/Murtagh romance and then PULL IT OUT FROM RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES! NO! THAT IS NOT RIGHT! I love Murtagh. He is my only epic-fantasy-action-novel bad boy and always will be. And you didn't even give him a chance!

I want a re-write of the ending! I know that your plot was amazingly brilliant and that all the details were intricate and perfect. To be honest I couldn't help but love every single damn page of that stupid story - but to me the ending just wasn't right! What's all this "I cannot" crap?! Of course she can! They can all do whatever the hell they want after what you put them through! I adored Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr. I even learned how to pronounce and use all the words you put in all three books! Both English, and everything else! The Inheritance Cycle was what prompted me to go get Lord of The Rings, my lovely copy of which sits on my 'favourites' shelf at this very moment! IF J.R.R. TOLKIEN COULD WRITE A HALF-SATISFYING ENDING, WHY COULDN'T YOU?

The whole book was amazing. It was filled with so much action and fighting and violence and twists and turns! And then I was so majorly disappointed it's basically taken up the whole review so far. Maybe I've gone soft from reading all that YA fiction lately, but so what if I wanted at least one moment of lvoe and happiness for Eragon? He's still a hormone-ruled, testosterone-fuelled young guy! You could have at least had him make a move on Arya and made her give him a slap! (There seriously needed to be more laugh out loud moments in Inheritance. The tension was so highly strung I couldn't believe it, but even us doggedly loyal fans need a break sometimes.)

I didn't hate Inheritance. No, no, no, no. I loved it and adored it and was so heartbroken by it that it's just not fair. Chris Paolini, if you even have a heart of your own you will make Eragon instantly regret his decision, want to act on all the emotions he wasted on Arya through each of the four incredibly long books, and turn back to get to her. In Inheritance there was such a positive outlook when he stopped moaning and complaining so much and just got on with the job as well as starting to think for himself, and of himself. He very nearly succeeded in becoming my favourite hero of all time.

As did Roran. But Roran is a completely different kettle of fish (at one time I had a debate with my history teacher as to whether or not he would become the next king, let alone the person everyone thought would ebt eh new Rider) and perhaps I will return to contemplate his escapades in Inheritance some other time, when I'm less exhausted.

It's not a bad book. If you're not part of the fandom you're probably thinking; why the hell is she screaming and whining so much? It's just a book! But the thing is, Inheritance isn't just a book. The Inheritane Cycle has never been a series of 'just books'. They are central to a whole new breed of readers and writers who sadly may never return to epic fantasy after the disappointment of, really, just one small part of the story. It wouldn't really have hurt to make them get together, even vaguely, would it? Give us some hope for the future?

Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Impact: 5/5
Re-readability: 3/5
And one special category:
Ending: 1/5
Overall: 3.5/5


I'm not reading Christopher Paolini's books anymore.

Until I learn the title of his next one.

Then I will become re-obsessed.

*sigh* How fickle I am.


Allie

Book Review 10 - Matched, by Ally Condie

Ah yes, another one of my infamous Christmas gift books.

I ADORE the cover. Maybe it's a
condition of super-hyped books, or
maybe of a book generally just not
being up my street, but they always
seem to have amazing covers.

Matched was waited with bated breath (haha, that rhymed! Oh, I am so distractable today...) by what feels like millions of people. When you hear good reviews or a general good vibe it's very hard to distinguish between the individual voices and what they actually might be saying. Like one of my reviews, for example, which always strive to give both positive and negative aspects of books, unless the thrill of reading them was overwhelmingly amazing and the faults will only be mentioned briefly. However, that is my personal choice, and I believe I've only ever given one near-perfect review (for Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly) and only because it's my favourite book ever.

But onto Matched.

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

First, let's talk about the setting. Matched is, as you've probably heard, a dystopian novel. However, the beginning of the book makes it sound much more like a utopia, and I loved this. You kind of know everything's going to fall apart, but the whole facade is so perfect for a while that you begin to become comfortable with it, and think, "Hey, this is okay! People are happy, they're fulfilled, Cassia's going to stay with her best friend turned sudden boyfriend forever and everything's going to be hunky dory!" but then, the cracks start to appear, in a very skilful way. I don't know how Ally Condie managed to make a perfect society where nothing ever happens so intriguing, but she does. From the beginning she pulls you into this world and keeps you interested. The Officals who represent the Society are horribly realistic and believable, even when Cassia is being warned very heavy for her insubordination to the society's propaganda.

Ally Condie ties a clean writing style into this sterile dystopia which builds on the naivete of its citizens. It's like the cover; simple but effective, and at times, strikingly beautiful. That is, it's not simplistic in a poorly written sense, as simplicity can so often be mistaken, it's simplistic in a stylistic sense. Cassia is an innocent, brainwashed, usually happy person, but she is also a teenager finding her way through life in a cool, calm, and suddenly shaken environment, and Ally's writing captures this brilliantly.

One of the main themes of the book was the love-triangle, or to be more specific, the subtle battle between the two heroes and the heroine. I like to think of it as Xader vs Ky; Conformity vs. Rebellion, Known vs. Unknown, Perfection vs. Imperfection, love that was dictated by Society vs. love that was dictated by oneself etc etc, but you get the gist. As character, they were both equally amazing. I loved Xnader from the very start! But Ky grew on me mas the novel progressed, especially his interest in forbidden poetry (!) but I think my heart still belongs to Xnader. Who knows, maybe I really am falling for the good boy this time... Another character I loved included Cassia's grandfather, but other than that I found many of the secondary characters to be too sketchy and vague. I couldn't see them in my mind, and it felt like they were purely instruments in the story, and instruments that didn't really progress the plot at that. This affected Cassia at times too, but I kept reading anyway.

And speaking of the plot; okay, so this was one of my major irritations. For a long time, it didn't really seem like there was any plot at all. Much as I appreciate the subplots and the realism, I wanted kickass action and lots of shooting/fighting/gouging/kicking well, more kickass action! That's the problem with Matched; it never really breaks out of its box. It barely even scratches the glass.

However, I doubt the depth I wanted and my other issues with plot and character will faze the intended audience. This isn't crossover fiction; it's pure YA. The book is and will remain popular in its genre. If you read YA commercial fiction, you don't want to miss this one - and hear this; it beats Divergent every time.

Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Impact: 3.5/5
Re-readability: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
In less than five words: dystopian, utopian, thought-provoking (and yes, that counts as one word!), brilliantly written.

Allie (no, not Ally. I AM NOT ALLY CONIDE. As much as I would like to be.)

Book Review 9 - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Amazing cover, isn't it?

OK, so this one is a bit late in coming! I got Divergent as a Christmas present but only recently got around to finishing it because I've been so busy. I'm also a little late in joining the bandwagon (which is practically overflowing by now) but I prefer to think of it as waiting for all the  kerfuffle to die down so I can write an objective, decisive and detailed review based on my own opinion and enjoyment, not the hype crated by others.

In a future Chicago (Read: virtually unrecognisable, probably even if you live there right now) 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions (or groups of people centred around standard values: bravery, intelligence, honesty, kindness and selflessness. Once you have chosen one of these virtues as the most important in your life, you are placed into a community of like-minded individuals who will then become your only friends, peers, colleagues and the pool from which you will select your husband/wife) to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

The book is out-and-out, general YA market dystopian. And why I add the 'general' bit is because for the first half of the book, there is no great tragedy or violence, save for the niggling thought that 'hey, these people really should be able to choose their own lifestyle, lifepath and other stuff!' However, don't get me wrong; there is a rush you get when reading the second half of the book that most people haven’t had since Katniss entered the Hunger Games and turned our worlds inside out! The characters, setting, plot, pace and narrative were well blended to produce a highly action packed novel that I’m sure will captivate a huge audience. It already has.

Tris' unsuitability even for the faction she grew up in proves threatening for those controlling this perfect society because as a Divergent, she can’t easily be manipulated. What comes next is a continuous reveal of hidden agendas and power plays. I loved to see how Tris evolved in the story. In the beginning, we get hints of her courage and intuition, but sickeningly, it has to stay hidden, and I hated that, because there’s nothing I love more than female characters that can kick some serious ass! But I digress. I loved many of the characters; her brother Caleb tore my heart out in such a lovely way at the beginning, and Four...well, there aren't really any words to describe him. *swoons*

However, there were some serious faults with this book. I almost wish I hadn't received it and had waited to get it at the library instead. That's the thing, when you become so swayed by the trends and the buzz; you forget your own personal preferences. I have never been a huge dystopian fan. It gave me apocalyptic  nightmares. The Hunger Games was a haunting turning point, but Divergent isn't the Hunger Games, and it's not nearly as gripping, thrilling, or heart-wrenching. That is why I try to stay neutral when I recommend books I have only read a small portion of, in case I pass that pain onto others. It's not fair to impose your own opinion on someone else unless they ask for it, and I think this is important to bear in mind if you're considering buying Divergent. You really need to ignore the cover, the title, the author's name, the hype, in order to get a true sense of the story and its flaws as well as its positive features.

For example, I love teen books with just a little smattering of romance mixed in with the other plot points. Divergent appears to have this, but hello?! - you don't kiss when you are bleeding all over and about to be executed. That is not normal human reaction. There is no way a boy you barely know's kiss can erase that fear! And much as I loved him, I just wanted Tris to turn back into that brave, but not emotionless, girl she was, and what happened throughout the book was that she was either too much of one or too little of the other, and I didn't quite believe her. I also think that despite the fact I loved the first few chapters, after that I started to get bored. The book is drawn out (about 500 pages of drawn out, to be exact), and though I adore detail I really wish there had been some more action early on in the book. Scatter the history here and there if you must, but at least do it in a way that advances the future of the story, not drags us back so you can't get interested in what's happening right at that moment.

Don't get me wrong, the writing was amazing, considering how young Veronica Roth is and how it was written in the present tense. That was one almighty challenge for her to set herself - and that, I think, is the motto of this story. The bar was set too high and the fall was way too hard. Still, it was an impressive debut and I will tentatively be trying to find Insurgent when it appears so I can see if anything improves.

Writing: 4.5/5
Characters: 3/5/5
Plot: 4/5
Impact: -3.5/5 (i.e. it impacted on me negatively.)
Re-readability: 2.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
In less than five words: dystopian, well-written, detailed, slightly violent

You know, I'm not even fussed about getting an excerpt of this or anything. :(

Allie

Nightshade, by Andrea Cremer - Excerpt

I keep nearly forgetting to track down excerpts for my reviews - usually I search for them before I write the review, since sometimes it's necessary to have a little teaser to go along with the book and make sure anyone reading gets what you mean....thankfully someone had thought to write up an excerpt and I didn't have to look very far for this one...

Here you go, a whole 2,035 words of wolfishness - the first chapter! You'll see what I mean about action from the very beginning...

I'd always welcomed war, but in battle my passion rose unbidden.

The bear’s roar filled my ears. Its hot breath assaulted my nostrils, fueling my bloodlust. Behind me I could hear the boy’s ragged gasp. The desperate sound made my nails dig into the earth. I snarled at the larger predator again, daring it to try to get past me.

What the hell am I doing?

I risked a glance at the boy and my pulse raced. His right hand pressed against the gashes in his thigh. Blood surged between his fingers, darkening his jeans until they looked streaked by black paint. Slashes in his shirt barely covered the red lacerations that marred his chest. A growl rose in my throat.

I crouched low, muscles tensed, ready to strike. The grizzly rose onto its hind legs. I held my ground.

Calla!

Bryn’s cry sounded in my mind. A lithe brown wolf darted from the forest and tore into the bear’s unguarded flank. The grizzly turned, landing on all fours. Spit flew from its mouth as it searched for the unseen attacker. But Bryn, lightning fast, dodged the bear’s lunge. With each swipe of the grizzly’s trunk-thick arms, she avoided its reach, always moving a split second faster than the bear. She seized her advantage, inflicting another taunting bite. When the bear’s back was turned, I leapt forward and ripped a chunk from its heel. The bear swung around to face me, its eyes rolling, filled with pain.

Bryn and I slunk along the ground, circling the huge animal. The bear’s blood made my mouth hot. My body tensed. We continued our ever-tightening dance. The bear’s eyes tracked us. I could smell its doubt, its rising fear. I let out a short, harsh bark and flashed my fangs. The grizzly snorted as it turned away and lumbered into the forest.

I raised my muzzle and howled in triumph. A moan brought me back to earth. The hiker stared at us, eyes wide. Curiosity pulled me toward him. I’d betrayed my masters, broken their laws. All for him.

Why?

My head dropped low and I tested the air. The hiker’s blood streamed over his skin and onto the ground, the sharp, coppery odor creating an intoxicating fog in my conscience. I fought the temptation to taste it.

Calla? Bryn’s alarm pulled my gaze from the fallen hiker.

Get out of here. I bared my teeth at the smaller wolf. She dropped low and bellied along the ground toward me. Then she raised her muzzle and licked the underside of my jaw.

What are you going to do? her blue eyes asked me.

She looked terrified. I wondered if she thought I’d kill the boy for my own pleasure. Guilt and shame trickled through my veins.

Bryn, you can’t be here. Go. Now.

She whined but slunk away, slipping beneath the cover of pine trees.

I stalked toward the hiker. My ears flicked back and forth. He struggled for breath, pain and terror filling his face. Deep gashes remained where the grizzly’s claws had torn at his thigh and chest. Blood still flowed from the wounds. I knew it wouldn’t stop. I growled, frustrated by the fragility of his human body.

He was a boy who looked about my age: seventeen, maybe eighteen. Brown hair with a slight shimmer of gold fell in a mess around his face. Sweat had caked strands of it to his forehead and cheeks. He was lean, strong—someone who could find his way around a mountain, as he clearly had. This part of the territory was only accessible through a steep, unwelcoming trail.

The scent of fear covered him, taunting my predatory instincts, but beneath it lay something else—the smell of spring, of nascent leaves and thawing earth. A scent full of hope. Possibility. Subtle and tempting.

I took another step toward him. I knew what I wanted to do, but it would mean a second, much-greater violation of the Keepers’ Laws. He tried to move back but gasped in pain and collapsed onto his elbows. My eyes moved over his face. His chiseled jaw and high cheekbones twisted in agony. Even writhing he was beautiful, muscles clenching and unclenching, revealing his strength, his body’s fight against its impending collapse, rendering his torture sublime. Desire to help him consumed me.

I can’t watch him die.

I shifted forms before I realized I’d made the decision. The boy’s eyes widened when the white wolf who’d been eyeing him was no longer an animal, but a girl with the wolf’s golden eyes and platinum blond hair. I walked to his side and dropped to my knees. His entire body shook. I began to reach for him but hesitated, surprised to feel my own limbs trembling. I’d never been so afraid.

A rasping breath pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Who are you?” The boy stared at me. His eyes were the color of winter moss, a delicate shade that hovered between green and gray. I was caught there for a moment. Lost in the questions that pushed through his pain and into his gaze.

I raised the soft flesh of my inner forearm to my mouth. Willing my canines to sharpen, I bit down hard and waited until my own blood touched my tongue. Then I extended my arm toward him.

“Drink. It’s the only thing that can save you.” My voice was low but firm.

The trembling in his limbs grew more pronounced. He shook his head.

“You have to,” I growled, showing him canines still razor sharp from opening the wound in my arm. I hoped the memory of my wolf form would terrorize him into submission. But the look on his face wasn’t one of horror. The boy’s eyes were full of wonder. I blinked at him and fought to remain still. Blood ran along my arm, falling in crimson drops onto the leaf-lined soil.

His eyes snapped shut as he grimaced from a surge of renewed pain. I pressed my bleeding forearm against his parted lips. His touch was electric, searing my skin, racing through my blood. I bit back a gasp, full of wonder and fear at the alien sensations that rolled through my limbs.

He flinched, but my other arm whipped around his back, holding him still while my blood flowed into his mouth. Grasping him, pulling him close only made my blood run hotter.

I could tell he wanted to resist, but he had no strength left. A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth. Even if my own body was reacting unpredictably, I knew I could control his. I shivered when his hands came up to grasp my arm, pressing into my skin. The hiker’s breath came easily now. Slow, steady.

An ache deep within me made my fingers tremble. I wanted to run them over his skin. To skim the healing wounds and learn the contours of his muscles.

I bit my lip, fighting temptation. Come on, Cal, you know better. This isn’t like you.

I pulled my arm from his grasp. A whimper of disappointment emerged from the boy’s throat. I didn’t know how to grapple with my own sense of loss now that I wasn’t touching him. Find your strength, use the wolf. That’s who you are.

With a warning growl I shook my head, ripping a length of fabric from the hiker’s torn shirt to bind up my own wound. His moss-colored eyes followed my every movement.

I scrambled to my feet and was startled when he mimicked the action, faltering only slightly. I frowned and took two steps back. He watched my retreat, then looked down at his ripped clothing. His fingers gingerly picked at the shreds of his shirt. When his eyes lifted to meet mine, I was hit with an unexpected swell of dizziness. His lips parted. I couldn’t stop looking at them. Full, curving with interest, lacking the terror I’d expected. Too many questions flickered in his gaze.

I have to get out of here. “You’ll be fine. Get off the mountain. Don’t come near this place again,” I said, turning away.

A shock sparked through my body when the boy gripped my shoulder. He looked surprised but not at all afraid. That wasn’t good. Heat flared along my skin where his fingers held me fast. I waited a moment too long, watching him, memorizing his features before I snarled and shrugged off his hand.

“Wait—” he said, and took another step toward me.

What if I could wait, putting my life on hold in this moment? What if I stole a little more time and caught a taste of what had been so long forbidden? Would it be so wrong? I would never see this stranger again. What harm could come from lingering here, from holding still and learning whether he would try to touch me the way I wanted to him to?

His scent told me my thoughts weren’t far off the mark, his skin snapping with adrenaline and the musk that belied desire. I’d let this encounter last much too long, stepped well beyond the line of safe conduct. With regret nipping at me, I balled my fist. My eyes moved up and down his body, assessing, remembering the feeling of his lips on my skin. He smiled hesitantly.

Enough.

I caught him across the jaw with a single blow. He dropped to the ground and didn’t move again. I bent down and gathered the boy in my arms, slinging his backpack over my shoulder. The scent of green meadows and dew-kissed tree limbs flowed around me, flooding me with that strange ache that coiled low in my body, a physical reminder of my brush with treachery. Twilight shadows stretched farther up the mountain, but I’d have him at the base by dusk.

A lone, battered pickup was parked near the rippling waterway that marked the boundary of the sacred site. Black signs with bright orange lettering were posted along the creek bank:

NO TRESPASSING. PRIVATE PROPERTY.

The Ford Ranger was unlocked. I flung open the door, almost pulling it from the rust-bitten vehicle. I draped the boy’s limp form across the driver’s seat. His head slumped forward and I caught the stark outline of a tattoo on the back of his neck. A dark, bizarrely inked cross.

A trespasser and trend hound. Thank God I found something not to like about him.

I hurled his pack onto the passenger seat and slammed the door. The truck’s steel frame groaned. Still trembling with frustration, I shifted into wolf form and darted back into the forest. His scent clung to me, blurring my sense of purpose. I sniffed the air and cringed, a new scent bringing my treachery into stark relief.

I know you’re here. A snarl traveled with my thought.

Are you okay? Bryn’s plaintive question only made fear bite harder into my trembling muscles. In the next moment she ran beside me.

I told you to leave. I bared my teeth but couldn’t deny my sudden relief at her presence.

I could never abandon you. Bryn kept pace easily. And you know I’ll never betray you.

I picked up speed, darting through the deepening shadows of the forest. I abandoned my attempt to outrun fear, shifted forms, and stumbled forward until I found the solid pressure of a tree trunk. The scratch of the bark on my skin failed to repel the gnat-like nerves that swarmed in my head.

“Why did you save him?” she asked. “Humans mean nothing to us.”

I kept my arms around the tree but turned my cheek to the side so I could look at Bryn. No longer in her wolf form, the short, wiry girl’s hands rested on her hips. Her eyes narrowed as she waited for an answer.

I blinked, but I couldn’t halt the burning sensation. A pair of tears, hot and unwanted, slid down my cheeks.

Bryn’s eyes widened. I never cried. Not when anyone could witness it.

I turned my face away, but I could sense her watching me silently, without judgment. I had no answers for Bryn. Or for myself.

Oh, and excuse some of the writing behind in red. I'm in a  red kind of mood.

Allie

Book Review 8 - Nightshade, by Andrea Cremer

First things first: forget what you've heard about the plot of Nighshade. Wolves, love triangle, blah blah blah. Just ditch the misconceptions and the assumptions and everything, OK?

Now, I'm not saying Nightshade was perfect, as my orders to carefully select/delete your memories of Nightshade's hype might suggest. But if you'll be patient with me - I know my reviews can turn out pretty long, but it's only because I love doing them, and when something's worth doing it's worth doing right, right? (Oh God, did I just nearly reference an ancient pop song there? Please pretend I didn't. You are feeling very sleepy....) - I will get to my point eventually.

So. Onto the review. Well, let's start with the cover first, shall we? I know there are several editions of it, but I have to say this one is my favourite. I could go on and on about it, but I won't. It was the cover of the copy of Nightshade I picked up, and I think the other ones - which have models on them - ruin the story a little, changing your imagination's perception of the book, whereas this one is stunning, simple and utterly divine.

Nightshade's beginning is graphic, and action-packed from about, ooh, the second paragraph? Scratch that, it's the first. I liked how it really grabbed you, and introduced you to Calla's world almost instantly. It's definitely not something for people who like gradually-built stories, because the details seem to intertwined beautifully with the action almost straight away - you need to be clever and really absorb the information, because you know you're not going to be told it twice.

The first quarter of the book was really promising. There was action, information, a dark seductive vibe, tension, and the beginnings of conspiracy. Some of the scenes had me so hooked I had to read them three and four times just so they'd get through in my head, and then I'd re-read them again to bask in their awesomeness. I was obsessed to the point that I was reading the pages faster than I could turn them.

Though the supernatural is a common feature of YA fiction now, the way the wolves were portrayed in Nightshade was refreshing and very well-written. The themes of hierarchy, power, ignorance and duty are thoroughly explored through the pack and their wider circle - including their masters, and this was one of my favourite unique selling points of the novel.

And then Calla met Shay.

At first, he was bearable. He was innocent, gullible, naive, an outsider, but he was smarter than he looked and I wanted to find out more about him. But what Calla was going to do for him - sacrifice her pack, her family - was implied from very early on, though we had no idea how it would actually be carried out, and it just wasn't believable. Not that he wasn't worthy of Calla's love - it was just that I had trouble seeing the reasons why Calla would be interested in him, apart from blind love-at-first sight, which is a shaky basis, at least when included in this kind of story. He didn't leap off the page, and his character seemed a bit flat.

Unlike Ren. Ren was the epitome of what everything this book should have stood for; passionate, fierce, flawed, powerful, irresistible, a risk-taker. He was betrothed to Call to create a new pack, but that didn't stop him for vying for her affections in the only way he knew how. He was a player, and every time I saw his name on the page I practically screamed with delight. He was the only character I genuinely, and whole-heartedly, loved, though the secondary characters of Ansel and Bryn definitely added something to the book.

However, the one thing I was horribly disappointed by in Nightshade was the way women were treated. It seems like a really absurd thing to say about a modern YA novel, right? But although at first I didn't notice, the way the female members of the pack were expected - and often forced - to become second to their male counterparts, and even worse, toys for them disgusted me. I did understand that it was based on their wolf nature and the strict rules of the Keepers, but it got out of hand. I was looking forward to Calla be the strong-willed, independent minded girl I'd heard about - and she was that, at the beginning, before slowly and surely she allowed herself to be degraded and weakened. Even worse than this, it was mostly on her mother's orders. What kind of message in that sending out to its readers? In the end she did stand up for what she wanted - Shay - but it was too long in coming, and the damage had already been done.

My advice: anyone who loves pure YA fiction, action and suspense will love this book. But feminists better stay away, or you'll end up burning the beautiful covers on a bonfire.

Writing: 3.5/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Impact: 2/5 (I could give it five out of five for all the wrong reason, but I won't.)
In five words: dark, seductive, paranormal romance, mixed-message

Allie

And yes, I know we haven't been around for a while...*shame* But don't worry, there'll be plenty of reviews and posts coming up over Christmas to make it up to all of you.

Book Review 7 - Wintercraft, by Jenna Burtenshaw

I first read this a while ago, long before I was considering books for review, and though I enjoyed it, I didn't get around to reading it for a second time until very recently! I hadn't heard of it at all, and basically picked it up at the library because I liked the sound of the blurb and the cover looked pretty cool....To me, it was less YA fantasy and more general fantasy, but I think maybe I'm just too used to reading American YA fiction...

This is one example of a book
where the cover really makes a
difference - it's gorgeous, and
really intriguing!

Anyway. The book's protagonist, Kate Winters, lives in a world where people and their communities are isolated, fearful, and ruled over from afar by the mysterious High Council. The country is in the midst of a war that seems to have been going on for ever, and to 'help' the war effort, the High Council send out wardens to take people from their homes and families. No one knows when they'll strike - ten years ago, they took Kate's parents.

When the wardens return to Kate's hometown, her uncle Artemis is one of the prisoners taken by the wardens onto the Night Train - but she has other problems to be worried about, what with her being hunted when she finds out she is one of the Skilled; a person cursed with the ability to see both the living and the dead. Along with her friend Edgar, she must run from one of the most feared men alive: the terrifying and sinister Silas Dane.

(OK, so I may be a little prejudiced towards Silas. How dare Jenna Burtenshaw sully the name of the best vampire character EVER? I mean the Silas from The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, by the way. But I digress.) Add to that an ancient book called Wintercraft, and a setting that becomes a character in itself (the cities and the country are very vividly described and easy to imagine), and you have a combination of storylines that, given the relatively short length of the book compared to most other YA fiction, create a world that pulls you in from the very first page.

Within just a few chapters you have been given enough information, and yet there is enough with-held, to make you very curious about the history of this fantasy world and its characters. Some scenes early on in the book make you think the book is darker than it is, and indeed it does return to this tone later on, but you shouldn't be discouraged if you don't think it's your kind of thing. There is something for everyone in Wintercraft. The plot takes unexpected twists and turns at every corner, but still manages to have a steadiness to it. With so much mystery involved, it's important that it doesn't meander, and Jenna Burtenshaw's writing suits this planned style - she is a very skilled storyteller, especially in her description.

It did have it's downfalls, though, and they are obvious enough to really bring down the standard of what could otherwise be an outstanding story.

First, and most importantly: I didn't bond with most of the characters. Kate is a little bit too tame for me, and though there are times when she is required to be very courageous, it felt fake. She didn't jump off the page and it affected my desire to finish the story (though I am glad I persevered!) and Edgar, especially, got on my nerves - which isn't something that often happens for me - and I found myself wishing Jenna Burtenshaw had created a stronger secondary character. He did grow on me, but it impacts on a story when a character feels so out of place for so long like it did in this book. However, Silas (and his bird) is such an intriguing and complicated character that his ability to keep you guessing really keeps the reality of the story alive. The other criticism I'd have for Wintercraft is that it's pace was sometimes too slow even for me.

Over all, I think there was a lot of potential in Wintercraft that sadly wasn't utilised - though I also think that it's a very good start to a series that I will definitely be picking up again sometime in the future.

Writing: 3.5/5
Characters: 4/5 (but only because Silas is worth a point and a half all by himself!)
Plot: 4/5
Impact: 2.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
In less than five words: fantasy, SILAS!, mysterious, intriguing, promising.

Allie

Waiting On Wednesday #5 - The Lost Princess, by Galaxy Craze

Meme originally by Jill at her blog Breaking the Spine.

This Wednesday's Chosen Book: Well, see the title of this post, but just to clarify, yes, Galaxy Craze is a person....
Release Date: May 8th, 2012 (the only bad thing about doing WoW posts is finding out how loooong we'll have to wait to actually read the books!)

Look at this cover! Isn't it stunning? I love how eye-catching  and contrasting it is. I'll give you the Goodreads summary to read after you absorb the gorgeousness of it.

Happily ever after is a thing of the past. 

The year is 2090. 

England is a barren land. Food is rationed. Oil has decimated the oceans. The people are restless. 

A ruthless revolutionary enacts a plan to destroy the royal family, and in a moment, the king is dead. His heiress, Princess Mary, and her brother, Jamie, have been abducted, and no one knows their fate. Princess Eliza Windsor barely escapes, and finds herself scared and lost in London's dangerous streets. 

With a mind for revenge and the safe recovery of her siblings, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. There she is tempted by her first taste of independence -- and true love. Ultimately she must summon her courage and fight to ensure that she does not become... The Last Princess.

How amazing does this sound? Like historical fiction...only future-fiction. It's pretty unique in it's premise of featuring a royal family as the main characters against a backdrop of the classic dystopian scenario. I can't wait to find out how a tale of love and looking out for your family (while being a PRINCESS) can be intertwined with the danger and information needed to keep you hooked on a story like this - with so many dystopian novels round now 9and so many of them being brilliant, more to the point) it's important to stand out from the crowd, and from what I've heard so far about The Last Princess, it's doing it's job pretty well....

So, what are you Waiting On this Wednesday?

Allie

Spooky, scary, supernatural....

(I promise I promise I promise I won't do any more Halloween-themed posts...)

All right, so this post will basically do what it says on the tin. And I know Tora hates when I do those kinds of posts, but c'mon, I couldn't resist. Lately I've seen so many books around that could be classed as Hallowe'en-ish that I just have to do a post about them. I won't bore you for long though (unless you are a book-fan, in which case, WELCOME! and I hope you enjoy the post.) I'm going to do one of my favourite spooky/scary/supernatural books from both children's novels and YA books.

First up, taking the prize for (Funniest) Spooky Kids' book(s):  Debi Gliori's Strega Borgia Chronicles (to give it it's proper title). 

There are two trilogies; the 'Pure Dead' trilogy, and the 'Deep' trilogy. The books take place in the magnificent StregaSchloss (what a name for a house!) and features the Strega-Borgia family; Signor Luciano, Signora Baci, and the children, Titus, Pandora, Damp, and later, Nieve. They are bizarre and hilarious character who come to life very easily - the books are hilarious and action-packed. Think the Addams Family, but kids under 12 will probably get the most enjoyment out of it. 

Oh, and did I mention the cryogenically frozen Strega-Nonna, and the monsters Ffup, Sab, and Tock? (Better mention Multitudina the Illiterat too lest she bite my ear off...)

And now, taking the award for YA Supernatural/Scary/Spooky book for this Hallowe'en....

(OK, so it'a not so much a single book, as an author.)

L.J. Smith, you may take your bow!

Her books, especially the Night World series, feature the classic portrayal of vampires, but crossed with elements of romance, and of course set in our modern-day world. She also wrote the Vampire Diaries (that TV show...you know the one, with the AMAZINGLY HUNKY vampire brothers? Ha. I knew that would get your attention...! But it's true.) which I have read, though I have to say I don't like those ones as much. (No offence, AMAZINGLY HUNKY vampire brothers who feature in the series.)

I'm definitely not a massive vampire fan, but they are my guilty pleasure, now revealed to the world. And, in a perfect twist of fate, there's probably a copy of one of her books in every library in the world, thanks to the recent craze -started-by-the-book-which-shall-not-be-named, so there's no excuse for not trying them.

Anyway, I better go now before twinsister dearest murders me* for mentioning the v-word on the blog.

*runs* 

Allie

*with a knife in the drawing room! We're so playing Cluedo tomorrow. And that will be the end of the Hallowe'en festivities. I swear I'm not into it as much as my recent posts have made out. It's just I've gone on a blogging binge and it happened to occur around this time of year...